The Ultimate Itinerary: Explore the Franciacorta Wine Road from Rodengo-Saiano to Cazzago San Martino
The Strada del Franciacorta, a pristine paradise in the heart of Lombardy, is a highly sought-after destination for tourists from all over the world who come here to taste the amazing delicacies, food, and wine excellences as well as to enjoy the extraordinary landscapes that characterize these hills, among ancient stone villages, perched castles, and gentle hills covered of prestigious vineyards.
It is located between Brescia and the southern tip of Lake Iseo.
Around the Franciacorta production area, which has a radius of about 90 kilometers, meet 19 municipalities: Paratico, Capriolo, Adro, Erbusco, Cologne, Coccaglio, Rovato, Cazzago San Martino, Passirano, Paderno Franciacorta, Cellatica, Gussago, Rodengo-Saiano, Ome, Polaveno, Iseo, Monticelli Brusati,
Since the cycle paths are well marked and the wine bars and well-stocked cellars are perfectly equipped for refreshments, with tastings of typical products and glasses of fine bubbles, all that is left to do is to set out to discover this tour on the Franciacorta Wine Road, a food and wine itinerary we have prepared for you.
The wines: Franciacorta, Curtefranca, and Sebino
Simply call it Franciacorta because the bubbles made in these parts are unique and must be made using the refermentation in the bottle method, just like Champagne. Do not call it sparkling wine because you run the risk of offending someone; instead, call it Franciacorta.
It is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco, and Erbamat grapes and was the first Italian Brut made using the traditional method to receive the DOCG. Depending on the variety, the fermentation period ranges from a minimum of 18 months for Franciacorta to 60 months for Franciacorta Riserva. Satèn and Rosé ferment for an average of 24 months and not vintage.
Because Franciacorta DOCG goes well with everything, from appetizers to desserts and, obviously, as an aperitif, it is challenging to pick just one type of food to pair it with.
But not only His Majesty Franciacorta, but also a large number of exceptional still wines that have been given the designation of controlled origin are produced in this region.
We’re talking about Curtefranca Bianco, which has a delicate flavor and is ideal for serving with fish dishes and appetizers, and Curtefranca Rosso, which is made from Cabernet Sauvignon , Barbera, Merlot, and Nebbiolo grapes and is better suited for serving with meat dishes and important first courses.
Sebino IGT, a large category of very valuable wines, includes white, red, new, and sweet wines that are primarily fresh and fragrant, even though it is not unusual to also find some full-bodied reds and intense wines, and it brings to a close the significant and opulent roundup of Franciacorta wines.
Brescia cuisine and typical dishes
Your palates and ours have both been eagerly awaiting this moment, when the dishes and regional specialties will be described. After all, we can’t ask you to raise your glasses without also giving you something to eat; otherwise, you’ll be too happy when we’re done.
So grab your forks and let’s set out to discover the incredibly unique flavors of this region, which play on two fronts and unsettle the more traditional gastro-tourist by offering typical inland peasant cuisine products and dishes in alternation with those originating from the Lake Garda and Lake Iseo waters.
As a result, the famous Casonsei from Brescia, stuffed with sausage and cheese, the mariconda soup, the traditional chicken-and-rice dish known as risotto alla Pitocca, as well as the tagliatelle with lake ragout and the more “marine” spaghetti with clams, can all be found among the first courses.
We start with a roll stuffed with raw ham, fontina cheese, and zucchini for the main course and then move on to beef fried in oil, stuffed pigeon in the Brescian fashion, pan-fried pike, grilled char, or whitefish baked in foil. Last but not least, we must acknowledge the region’s cold cuts and cheeses, which are genuine delicacies. These include the soppressata from Brescia, the casolet, a soft cheese; the fatul, a rare-good goat cheese; and the lard flavored with Curtefranca, to name a few.
Are you stuffed? Patience is required because you need to find room for a mouthful of spongada, a slice of cake of roses, and a few “slices” of persicata or quince jelly, the solid compotes that drive the kids crazy.
Let’s take one last detour among the DOP and IGP goods of Franciacorta and Bresciano, real masterpieces, primarily dairy goods like Gorgonzola DOP, Provolone Valpadana DOP, Silver DOP, Salva Cremasco DOP, and Quartirolo DOP, but not only; of particular value is actually the extra-virgin olive oil of the Lombard Lakes DOP with the Typical Sebino Geographical Indication.
The activities on our schedule
- Rodengo-Saiano’s Sapor d’Olio (February/March)
- April brings the San Giorgio di Capriolo Festival.
- Cazzago San Martino’s Franciacorta in Fiore (May)
- (May) Rovato floral ensemble
- (May) Iseo Lakes Festival
- Rovato hosts an organic agriculture exhibition in June.
- Various locations, Iseo Jazz (July)
- September’s release of The Song of the Stones of Provaglio
- September brings the Rodengo-Saiano Mulberry Festival.
- September brings Cazzago San Martino’s Brescia Motor Week.
From Rodengo-Saiano to Paratico, this is the route
Come on, come on; our mouths are already watering after all these culinary promises. Naturally, we begin in Brescia and travel northwest toward Rodengo-Saiano. The suggestive village, where we can see the lovely Olivetan Abbey of San Nicola, one of the richest and most significant religious complexes in the north of Italy, is reached between a bell tower, an old stone farmhouse, a tower that soars in the distance, and a few villages perched here and there. It is also possible to visit the ruins of an ancient Roman wall and a suggestive Longobard hut there.
We now travel towards Passirano to fully immerse ourselves in the medieval castles that make up this region. On the way, we first come across the Castle of Passirano, a magnificent manor house from the 12th century that has been exquisitely preserved, and after just two kilometers, we reach the Castle of Bornato, which, with its 300-meter-circle of crenellated walls, stands out as one of the most intriguing examples of the region’s medieval castles.
We keep going in the direction of the Torbiere del Sabino, one of the most significant naturalistic areas of the Lombard plain, a rare ecological wonderland that is home to fascinating species of flora and fauna. We travel to Provaglio d’Iseo, a town surrounded by reeds and water, and stop there to see the Monastery of San Pietro in Lamosa, a significant Romanesque church that towers over the community.
Before we leave, let’s stop at the Cantina Bersi Serlini, a classy and elegant historic business whose original premises were constructed by the same Cluny monks who lived in the Monastery of San Pietro, for a quick and very sparkling aperitif and a guided tour of the vineyards.
After traveling 3 more kilometers, we finally reach the lake’s shores in Iseo, one of the region’s most significant lake towns with a well-preserved historic core.
The Castle of Oldofredi, which, with its square towers and the stone blocks used in its construction, stands out with all its force at the center of the inhabited nucleus, must be photographed, as well as a stroll along the banks of the suggestive body of water and along the village’s winding streets.
It is also essential to pay a quick visit to Monte Isola, which is both one of the most picturesque villages in both Lombardy and all of Italy and the inhabited island in the middle of Lake Iseo.
Additionally, if you plan your trip for the Christmas season, you can visit one of Lombardy’s most stunning Christmas markets, where your sweet tooth will be satisfied.
The last stop on the first leg of our journey is in Paratico, a significant town on Lake Iseo, where you can take a break and unwind on a bench in the Parco delle Erbe Danzanti, which has a stunning view of the lake and is a rare example of environmental recovery foresight given that it was built on the site of a defunct railroad.
The stomach grumbles? Let’s pay attention to him; “he”‘s right. To sample the regional specialties, we take it to the Lantieri de Paratico farm.
The itinerary continues: from Paratico to Cazzago San Martino
Awaiting departure for Capriolo? Up until we arrive at the small village, which is situated close to the hills of Morainic origin that rise towards the north-west, we move away from the lake landscape and immerse ourselves once more in the sweetness of the Franciacorta hills.
The Ricci Curbastro Agricultural and Wine Museum, which houses more than 3,000 tools related to the agricultural and wine-growing tradition of Franciacorta, should also be visited in addition to the castle, which can be reached by ascending the hill on which the town is situated. This trip proves to be especially “alive” because you can sample a glass of locally produced bubbles at the conclusion.
You must visit Villa Lechi and its enormous Italian Garden, which is thought to be the most distinctive villa in the entire Franciacorta region, when you arrive in Erbusco, which is five more kilometers to the south along a suggestive ribbon of asphalt that winds between gentle hills and stretches of vineyards.
Because of how solemn the building is—a horseshoe-shaped structure completely encircled by a portico—and how romantic the garden is—both of which make them excellent choices for hosting weddings and other significant occasions.
The Convento dell’Annunciata, which dates back to 1500 and is distinguished by a perfectly preserved double loggia; the paintings kept inside the Church of the Convent are also very intriguing; and Monte Orfano, a very picturesque isolated relief that emerges almost suddenly from the fertile Lombard plain, are all waiting for us there. Rovato is also known as “the capital of Franciacorta.”
The ruins of the ancient aqueduct and the livestock market, where working animals were once traded, can both be found by taking a stroll through the historic district’s streets.
The final stage is a return to our starting point in the direction of Cazzago San Martino, a municipality that is home to the Bornato Castle, which we previously visited.
What are we doing exactly? We transport our achy bodies to the Priore Agricultural Company’s premises, where we can sample local fare and eat traditional foods while traveling as little as possible.
Summary of our journey along the Franciacorta Wine Road
Itinerary
Rodengo-Saiano – Passirano – Provaglio d’Iseo – Iseo – Paratico – Capriolo – Erbusco – Rovato – Cazzago San Martino: 43 kilometers.
What are we seeing?
Olivetan Abbey of San Nicola (Rodengo-Saiano), Passirano Castle and Bornato Castle, San Pietro in Lamosa Monastery (Provaglio d’Iseo), Oldofredi Castle (Iseo), Capriolo Castle, Villa Lechi (Erbusco), Convent of the Annunciata, Roman Aqueduct Remains, and Forum Boarium (Rovato).
What we will taste during the tour
Mariconda Soup, Casonsei Bresciani, Pitocca-style rice, Lake Ragù tagliatelle, Clam-filled spaghetti, With raw ham, fontina, and zucchini rolled up, Stuffed pigeon in the Brescian manner Beef in Oil, Grilled Char, Sauteed Pike, and Whitefish in Foil Robiola Bresciana, Casolet, Fatul, Spongada, Cotognata, Persicata, Torta di Rose, Spongada, Cotognata, Soppressata Bresciana, With the typical Sebino Geographical Indication, lard is flavored with Curtefranca, Gorgonzola, Provolone Valpadana, Silver, Salva Cremasco, Quartirolo, and extra virgin Lombard Lakes olive oil.
Wine bars, cellars and farms for tastings
Farms Lantieri de Paratico (Paratico), Priore (Cazzago San Martino), and Cantine Bersi Serlini (Provaglio d’Iseo).
Museums and tourist destinations include Monte Orfano (Rovato), Lake Iseo (Provaglio d’Iseo), Parco delle Erbe Danzanti (Paratico), and Torbiere del Sebino (Provaglio d’Iseo).
